- A.Two leadership paradigms — transactional (exchange-based: reward for performance) and transformational (inspiration and vision) — with different effects on engagement and innovation.
- B.The classic constraint triangle — Scope, Time, Cost — where increasing one or two requires sacrificing the third (or quality at the center). ✓
- C.The number of direct reports a manager can effectively supervise — narrow span (3-5) for complex work; wide span (15-20) for routine work.
- D.The classic constraint triangle — Scope, Time, Cost — where increasing one or two requires sacrificing the third (or quality at the center).
The Project Management Triangle is the classic constraint triangle — Scope, Time, Cost — where increasing one or two requires sacrificing the third (or quality at the center). The other options describe related but distinct concepts in Management & Organization — see the deep-dive guide for the full distinction.
How to think about questions like this
You cannot have all three; pick which to flex. Questions like this test whether you can distinguish The Project Management Triangle from neighboring concepts. The most common trap is choosing a closely-related concept that sounds similar but applies in a different context.
When you see a definition question on an exam, do two things: (1) translate the question into your own words, then (2) generate the answer in your own words before reading the options. This avoids the cognitive bias of recognizing a familiar phrase as correct just because it is familiar.